It’s no secret that Victoria Iacobelli will go down as the most accomplished player in Novi volleyball history.

The 5-foot-9 senior hitter, who repeats as All-Area Player of the Year, capped a stellar four-year varsity career as a starter by helping the Wildcats earn their first MHSAA Class A state championship in school history last month with a four-set win over Romeo, the team that defeated Novi in the 2014 state finals in Battle Creek.

Iacobelli, one-half of the heralded Iacobelli sisters along with identical twin Paulina, paced the Wildcats to a 55-2 record as she finished with 531 kills (.401 attack percentage) to go along with 487 digs, 81 service aces and a serve receive average of 2.2 (on 532 chances).

Iacobelli was voted Miss Volleyball runner-up, earned second team MaxPreps All-America honors and was a Gatorade Player of the Year nominee. She was also a three-time all-region and all-KLAA selection.

“She is the definition of reliable, as she does everything well on the court, including her ability to terminate the ball from anywhere, as well as her extremely consistent back-row play,” Novi coach Jen Cottrill said of the two-year captain. “Off the court, she is a 4.0 student and an exemplary leader.”

During her career, Iacobelli played 507 out of a possible 508 sets, racking up 1,515 kills on 3,703 attempts to go along with 203 aces and 1,645 digs (all firsts in the Novi volleyball record book).

“Victoria’s success on the court has been paramount as she leaves our program as the greatest player in Novi history,” Cottrill said. “What she has done for our program is indescribable in words.”

First team

Erin O’Leary, Soph., Novi: The 5-10 setter and captain, a University of Michigan commit, was the only sophomore named first team Class A all-state after finishing the season with 1,371 assists, 225 kills, 321 digs and 86 aces for the state champions.

O’Leary is a two-time all-KLAA and all-region selection, as well as being a KLAA scholar-athlete with a 4.0 G.P.A.

“Erin is such an impressive setter, because she possesses both the elite level skill set as well as all of the intangibles of a stellar athlete,” Cottrill said. “Erin continually amazed me with her ability to make a bad pass look good, get her attackers in a great position to score, keep our opponents guessing, attack at the net as well as serve and defend efficiently in the back row. Erin always stays calm, no matter the score or situation, and just plays the game. A humble, mature young leader who is a pleasure to coach and be around.”

Jessica Ignace, Sr., South Lyon: The 6-3 middle hitter, who signed with NCAA Division II Indiana (Pa.) University, earned all-KLAA honors after finishing with a team-best 418 kills (4.6 per set) with a .267 attack percentage.

Ignace, who could play three different positions, also finished with 53 blocks (including 20 solo).

“What made her effective was her consistency hitting from high positions, her blocking and her leadership,” South Lyon coach Tom Teeters said. “Beginning in mid-season, she was able to hit from the back row for us and we were pretty much a two-hitter team for a long time. Her hand-to-ball contact was good. She also did some improvising.”

Ally Cummings, Jr., Novi: The 6-0 right-side hitter earned Class A second team all-state honors after finishing with 398 kills on 891 attempts for a .412 attack percentage.

The all-region and all-KLAA pick also added 75 blocks and 256 digs.

“Ally’s development into one of the most efficient and powerful attackers in the state has been impressive,” Cottrill said. “Her ability to terminate at a very high rate was the key to our success this season. We could always rely on her to put balls away, as well as defend the opponents’ best attackers. An intense competitor and tremendous teammate.”

Martin also garnered all-region and all-KLAA honors after racking up a team-high 402 kills (3.9 per set) with a .311 hitting percentage. She also ranked second on the team in digs (272) with only 10 errors.

Paulina Iacobelli, Sr., Novi: The 5-9 outside hitter saved her greatest moment for the Class A state finals, when she had a team-high 20 kills on 46 attempts (with no errors) to go along with 12 digs.

The all-region and all-KLAA pick wound up with 351 kills on 806 attempts (.360 average) to go along with 506 digs, 92 aces and a 2.25 serve receive attempt average.

“Paulina has been one of the most impactful players to ever play for Novi,” Cottrill said of the MIVCA Academic all-state choice (3.95 GPA). “Always sort of the unsung hero, she does all of the little things well. Paulina is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached. She always wants to win, no matter the game or situation. Her ability to perform under pressure has been tremendous, as her best matches came in 2014 and 2015 in the semifinals and finals in Battle Creek.”

Mikayla Monk, Sr., South Lyon: The 6-0 middle hitter, who signed with NCAA Division II Southern Missouri State, ranked second for the Lions in kills (277), with an attack percentage of .244.

Monk also earned all-KLAA honors for the Class A district champs.

“What made her a good player was her dynamic approach and ability to jump high, hit quick,” Teeters said. “She was always in a high position and was a strong blocker like Jessica (Ignace). Toward the end, we started using Mikayla in the back row. She was a good passer for us on serve receive. Even if she didn’t play back row, she sometimes jumped into serve receive when was front row. Her ability to hit outside, run a slide, was effective for us.”

“She was my go-to player, my most steady player,” coach Jean Dukic said. “She was strictly front row, but for three-quarters of the season I had her serve and play defense and she had a killer serve. She’s a high academic achiever, too.”

She played primarily as an outside hitter, finishing with 305 kills and a .250 attack percentage, but also can play setter when called upon.

“Maddie is very athletic; she can make adjustments on the fly,” coach Mary Shelton said. “She has a very, very high volleyball IQ. She’s also a very good leader who leads by example versus leading vocally.”

Watson, who finished with 1,005 career digs, is a three-sport athlete who also plays tennis and bowls, as well as being an KLAA all-academic honoree.

“It will be a huge loss having her gone, simply from the fact that she was our vocal leader and was also a person who led by example all year long,” Shelton said. “She made sure she created an environment that everyone wanted to play in on top of it.”